William Copeland Dugger was born 19 May 1812 (source?) in Carter Co, TN. He is a proven son of William Dugger (1750-1839) and his 3rd wife Nancy Ann Brown.

Birth is listed in the William Dugger family bible, though the year is off by a few years, or misread:

Martha Dugger, born February 24, 1799

Rosamund Dugger born May 4 1805

Nancy Dugger born June 10, 1810

Patty Pierce born November 15, 1795

Hannah Pierce born Oct. 3, 1797

Jenny Pierce born Sept 25, 1800

George Morton Pierce born Nov. 22, 1802

Hardy Pierce born Nov. 14, 1804

Henry pierce born June 5, 1807

Ann Brown Pierce born Sept 24, 1779

Thomas Dugger born May 16, 1797

Patty Dugger born Feb 24, 1799

Rhoda Dugger born March 28 1801

William Copeland Dugger born May 19, 1819

Sarah Ann Dugger born Nov. 15, 1836

William Copeland Dugger was named in his father William Dugger's Will of 10 Apr 1839 as "William, David and Tarlton, my three sons." and he was also named as an Executor of the Will.

William C. Dugger married Nancy Lacey (I don't have a source for her maiden name) circa 1830/1835 in Carter Co, TN. I didn't find a marriage record for them. The 1850 census shows them married in 1836 (the census taker put a marriage year in the "Married in year" column, which wasn't what that column was for, but nice to have anyway!). This 1836 date puts their marriage after the birth of their first child. The entry on the 1850 census is likely wrong, either that or William was married before Nancy.

William was listed on the 1840 census in Carter Co, TN, near his brother Benjamin T. Dugger and various other relatives. Analysis:

On the 1850 census, William Copeland Dugger and family were listed in Carter Co, TN between his brother Benjamin T. Dugger and brother Thomas Dugger.

7th Census of the United States - 1850

Name

Age

Sex

Race

Occupation

Real $

Birth Place

Carter Co, TN - 1st Civil District

Page 160b, House # 27, Family # 27

Dugger William C

34

M

W

Farmer (M 1836)

1450

TN

Dugger Nancy

35

F

W

TN

Dugger John

14

M

W

Farmer

TN

Dugger Sarah P

12

F

W

TN

Dugger Alexander

9

M

W

TN

Dugger James T

7

M

W

TN

Dugger Elizabeth

5

F

W

TN

Dugger William H

3

M

W

TN

Dugger Martha

1

F

W

TN

William Copeland Dugger applied for a Pension on behalf of himself and his siblings, as heirs of Revolutionary War soldier William Dugger, their father. Filed 9 Jun 1853 (# R 3109), he named the surviving heirs of William, and though he listed himself as a child of William Dugger, he did not include himself in the list showing the surviving heirs and giving their ages.

Apparently Nancy Lacey Dugger died between 1852 and 1856, for on 4 Feb 1856 "William C. Dugger" obtained a marriage bond in neighboring Johnson Co, TN to marry Celia Smith (listed as "Selia Bowman"). They married in Johnson Co, TN on 7 Feb 1856. Celia Smith was previously married to Cornelius Bowman (married in 1846) who had died between 1850 and 1856.

William and family were still in Carter Co, TN for the 1860 census. They were in Vermillion Co, IN in 1870. He died before 1880. His widow Celia was on the 1880 census in Cherokee Co., KS.